The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis through data-driven reforms, enhanced collaboration, and targeted investments aimed at expanding access to education and improving learning outcomes nationwide.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education following the 2026 Basic Education in Nigeria Bootcamp held in Jos, where key stakeholders convened to develop practical strategies for improving school enrolment, retention, and academic performance.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, stressed the critical role of credible data and effective learner tracking in driving meaningful reforms. He noted that identifying out-of-school children and implementing targeted interventions remain central to addressing the challenge.
To support these efforts, the Ministry is expanding the Digital National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) and introducing the Learner Identification Number (LIN) to strengthen data accuracy and monitoring.
According to the statement, the 2025/2026 Annual School Census has already captured over two million learners, while nearly one million out-of-school children have been identified for reintegration into the education system.
The Minister also highlighted significant government investments in the sector, including over N106 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) grants, N22 billion allocated for teacher training benefiting approximately 978,000 educators, the renovation of more than 10,000 classrooms, and the distribution of 7.8 million textbooks across schools.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Federal Government said it would continue to pursue inclusive, equitable, and quality education through sustained funding and coordinated national action aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to learning opportunities.
